Jacob Wetterling’s Killer Confesses 27 Years After His Death

And reveals the 11-year-old's heartbreaking final words
- by
marie claire

07 Sep
2016

WARNING: Disturbing content

Earlier this week the remains of Jacob Wetterling were found, almost 27 years after he was abducted.

The Stearns County Sherrif’s Office confirmed that the boy, who went missing when he was 11, had been located and identified in astatement issued on September 3.

"The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office today confirms that Jacob Wetterling’s remains have been located. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner and a forensic odontologist identified the remains as Wetterling’s earlier today."

Danny Heinrich was as a "person of interest" in the case and was reported to have been the one who led police to the body.

"I told him I had to go to the bathroom. I raised the revolver to his head. I turned my head and it clicked once. I pulled the trigger again and it went off."

"Looked back, he was still standing. I raised the revolver again and shot him again."

He initially fled the scene but returned later to bury the body.

Heinrich had been a suspect since the early days of the investigations but a lack of evidence meant they were unable to charge him.

Using new DNA evidence, thanks to advances in technology, police were able to obtain a warrant for Heinrich’s home where they uncovered a large collection of child pornography.

Following Jacob’s disappearance, his family became advocates for families of missing children lobbying for tougher laws against sex offenders.

In 1994, the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act was implemented and led to the creation of a national sex offender and crimes against children registry.